Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-06
DAILY HERALD.
WEDDING COMPLICATIONS.
strange Laws That Puzzied
Clergyman.

There was wedding in Wisconsin
last week. Weddings in Wisconsin
are not infrequent, but there was that
about this particular linking OF two
Young lives, with their accompanying
portion of this worlds goods, that
served to make it rather peculiar. The
groom, in anticipation OF the happy
event, had written some time
previously to his father, a
yeritable down-east minister of
Mr.. Wesley's church, inviting
him to come out and perform the GER
emony. While as yet his coming was
uncertain the parents of the bride en-
tered into negotiations with their
home clergyman-a gentleman of the
Universalist faith-who readily con-
sented to do the joiner work, and, as
it seems, forthwith considered himself
engaged. In the fullness of time the
good Methodist brother announced
his intention to be on hand, and on
hand he was the day before the we'd
ding was to take place. Half an hour
later it became unpleasantly apparent
that so far as officiating clergymen
were concerned here was indeed an
embarrassment of riches. The result
was that the Methodist brother
called upon the Universalist
brother, expressing the natural desire
of the paternal heart to otficiat9 at the
marriage of his own son, and ventured
to hint that the latitudinarian brother
give way. Whether it was question
of pride or the prospective fee may
never be known, but the Universalist
brother not only stood upon his rights,
but, by his learned exposition of the
Wisconsin marriage law, made it as
plain as the way to parish church
that if "a clergyman purposes to join
two people in the bonds OF matrimony
in the Badger state he must be pre-
pared to show by indubitable testi-
mony that he is a regularly ordained
minister OF the gospel. Now, while
the good Methodist brothers good
wife had packed about everything else
into her spouse's valise that could by
any possibility minister to his comfort,
she had forgotten his credentials.
They were at home, and here he was
in Wisconsin.
A ray OF light pierced the gloom,
however, when it was subsequently
discovered that in the absence OF the
credentials themselves a minister
may act if he can succeed in per-
suading the county clerk by other evi-
dence properly recorded that he is a
bona fide, regularly ordained clergy
man. The groom and one other, be-
sides the Methodist brother himself
were quite ready to make affidavit to
such state of facts, and after much
telegraphing back and forth, and a
night ride over to the county seat, all
legal distractions were brushed away,
peace spread her wings and the Meth
odist brother, in the goodness of his
heart, actually offered to let his late
antagonist officiate with him on the
basis of an even divide. The offer
was accepted, the allotted parts care
fully marked and the "cues" agreed
upon, and all promised to go off with
the regularity of new four dollar
alarm clock,
But it didn't. The Universalist
brother upon whom devolved the pre-
liminary portion of the ceremony, was
apparently minded, like Tennyson's
brook, to go on forever. Instead Of
following the Shakespearean lnJunc-
fion regarding other clowns, to "speak
no more than is set down for them,"
he not only went through his own part
of the ceremony, but made gener-
GUS incursion upon the others. When
at last he finally did let go, it puzzled
the Methodist brother, as it might
well have puzzled anyone else, to
know what was left outside of the
benediction. But the disciple of Mr..
Wesley proved equal to the occasion.
With a neatly worded introduction
and a regret at what might seem a
repetition of some things that might
have been said, he calmly and rever-
emily proceeded to marry the young
people over again.
1t is doubtful whether couple has
been so thoroughly married in Wis
consin or elsewhere for many moons,
-fChicago Tribune.